– regular trips between 2 and 6 days at Temenos Retreat Center in Shutesbury, MA over the course of 12 years in all seasons

– Road trip to Newfoundland for 9 days

– 2-week solo trip to Costa Rica

– 12 days to Iceland

– 5 days to Ireland

– Philippines (5 days out of a longer trip to South Korea visiting my mother who was teaching English there)

What was your favorite part of your trips?

Very difficult to say! I really appreciate the benefits that I mentioned in my presentation. I have learned how to notice when I need time away to renew and refresh, which I will no longer ignore.

Often, what becomes the best story is not what is my “favorite” during the trip. For example, when I was in Costa Rica, I got stuck in a terrible rainstorm just after the sun went down… in the mountains. I came across a very large puddle that I wasn’t sure I could get the vehicle through, and I had already crossed over four overflowing rivers. I had to turn around, on a one-lane gravel road. It was very scary and harrowing, but it is one of my favorite stories to tell, because I (mostly) kept my head, and ended up in a beautiful place I wouldn’t have found otherwise!

Most beautiful spot?

I absolutely loved hiking in Iceland. Of all of the places, I would have to say Þingvellir (Thingvellir) historic site and national park was amazing.

How would you say these trips have changed you?

I feel more confident in myself, more independent, and more likely to explore! I have learned more and more about how much I appreciate my home and what I miss about home. I have also become more frugal so that I can afford more travel.

Anything else you’d like to say?

Thanks for the time to present and share! I’m always happy to talk with anyone about my experiences. Feel free to stop me in the hall and ask a question!

It was the 16-18 High Sierra Alpine Backpacking for Outward Bound California. It was just over three weeks. I left June 13 and came back July 3.

What was your favorite part of your trip?

This is kind of a hard answer because there were so many moments I really connected with. Every day we did so much and we saw so much, and we traveled really far up and over mountains and we slept underneath the stars. Honestly, my favorite parts were just being able to be in that incredibly beautiful place with those people that I really connected with. They were complete strangers, yet from the very beginning of the course we became so close, and that was really special and really important for me.

What would you do differently if you went again, and what advice would you give someone going on a similar trip?

I don’t think I’d do anything differently. I loved every second out there.

For advice, I would just say go for it. It’s not supposed to be comfortable; it’s not supposed to be easy. The course is physically challenging; you’re carrying really heavy packs and you’re doing really technical maneuvering over mountains and you have to be pushed out of your comfort zone physically. Also, you’re going to be living next to strangers 24/7 for however many weeks you’re out there, so it’s not going to be comfortable. It shouldn’t be comfortable. Not going because you’re afraid or not going because you think you’re going to be out of your comfort zone is not the point of the trip. You should do it because you’re uncomfortable, and that’s what pushes you.

Most beautiful spot?

My course was a little bit unique because there was so much snow. We were surrounded by snow, and the most beautiful part of it was climbing up onto this really high peak and looking across the horizon and seeing all these snow-capped peaks, being able to look down into the valleys and on the ridges and see all these crystal-clear, completely see-through lakes that are glacier lakes and so when the ice melts you have these pristine lakes, and they’re beautiful. We swam in a couple of them, and it was so cold, but it was so beautiful. The sun was so hot that the air was dry— it was never humid because we were up so high in altitude. Reaching a really high peak and being able to look over everything and have that incredible blue sky and the white was just incredible.

Any memorable food?

Oh, this is a big one. With backpacking, you carry everything that you eat, so we would have a five day supply, a nine day supply, a seven day supply, where on those days you’re carrying food for nine days. It’s heavy, so you’re carrying a lot of dried foods, like pasta, beans, lentils, couscous, rice, stuff that when you boil water you can rehydrate and then eat.

One of our favorites on the course was obviously beans and rice, but we also had this Thai noodle dish that we always did on the first night of the resupply because it took up so much space and it was such a huge meal. It was two packages of Thai rice noodles, half a jar of peanut butter, sesame oil, and some spice that we called spike. It was called spike because we would mix a bunch of spices together, and we just named it spike, and it was delicious. I couldn’t really tell you the flavor— it’s like its own flavor. At every resupply you would get one apple and one orange, and that would be it for nine days, but we had on the first resupply maybe a head of broccoli that we would chop up and put into the Thai noodle dish and that was a huge meal.

Every meal we had was so delicious because by the end of the day of backpacking you’re so hungry that anything you eat is going to be so delicious. Definitely beans and rice was a favorite for all of us, and the Thai noodle dish. However, for dessert, what we would do is we had these cookies called bickies, where it was like ninety calories a cookie because you just are trying to inhale calories to keep your body functioning. What we would do is we would make this frosting out of brownie mix, hot chocolate mix, butter, and a little bit of water. It was this thick chocolate frosting and we would put it on the bickies with a little bit of jelly. It was so good, and we would just eat those for dessert. It was delicious.

We did a lot of cooking. Naish made a bunch of quesadillas out of some of the tortillas that we had, and cheese, we had blocks of cheese. Food was not a problem. We ate all of the food that we carried, and we had so much food. We ate good out there.

What were the other people on the trip like?

Everyone was so different. We had people from all over the world. The farthest was from Singapore— Varun was from Singapore. He was going to University of North Carolina, so he was doing Outward Bound before his first semester. Naish was from New Hampshire; I was from Mass; Birdie was from California; Austin, Texas was Charlie; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama was Eliza. So a lot of different people, a lot of different characters, and everyone just kind of fell into place. Charlie was really really funny. Charlie could make anyone laugh; he made me laugh so many times. Charlie and Naish really bonded; I really bonded with the girls. We all bonded, but it was like all the different funny characters. We just learned about each other and how to work as a team and we all worked through problems together, and it was great. Our instructors were really really cool. They were all so different and had really different personalities— you would go to one instructor for something and another for another thing. Everyone was just so fun to be around, and so interesting as people. I never got bored of talking to someone. You could always find something to talk about, which I think was really special.

How would you say this trip has changed you?

This is a more personal question because my junior year was pretty rough for a lot of different reasons, and I think I needed to completely leave not only my home life but my school life, my friends here. I needed to really cut ties and leave cause I was getting a little overwhelmed and so I went literally the farthest place I could have while staying in the country. I went to the other side of the country, and I did something pretty wild and out there.

A lot of what Outward Bound teaches is self-reflection, and I think it really pushed me to reflect on what I want to be as a person and who I want to interact with and how I want to put myself out there in the world and what are my values. That’s what I really needed at that time, and I think coming back from it I was really a changed person on my own personal philosophies. All of the stuff that I got really worked up about and crazy about before I left doesn’t matter, and removing myself and sitting underneath a beautiful mountain next to a pristine lake and just being in that spot and realizing that all that stuff back home doesn’t really matter was very powerful for me. It really helped me get out of the funk I was in after junior year and pushed me into a really successful senior year.

Anything else you’d like to say?

I think that everyone should have the opportunity to do Outward Bound. It’s different for every person who does it — this is just my experience — but I think that everyone should have that transformative experience. Really, push yourself out of your comfort zone.

The first day I was there I was really uncomfortable with crossing this really dangerous, intense river. It was rushing really fast, it was above waist deep, and it was scary, and we did it. That was my first day, and we crossed a crazy river. It pushes you in a lot of ways that you wouldn’t even think of until you’re out there. There’s so many different Outward Bound programs, so I think everyone should have that opportunity, not only just with Outward Bound, but with any program that you find. Remove yourself completely; do something completely different. I think everyone should have that experience.

The boys tasted sweat. They tasted sweat on skin in the sticky memory of July, tinged with blood from cracked lips and swollen tongues. The boys tasted summer air. They tasted salt and tears and his father’s booze. They tasted each other’s lips. This is what cheating tastes like, he thought. It tasted good. They tasted ketchup and soft-serve and a nervous offering of friendship. The boy who was afraid to let things past his lips found it so easy to let him. And yet the boys tasted regret. They tasted distance and late-night phone calls in lonely mouths. The cafeteria food tasted like unanswered questions and uncertainties. It tasted like longing. Tongues clashing like swords, they tasted blood spilled by choice. Teeth gnashing with anxiety, they tasted mistakes. They swallowed memories off of each other’s skin. They tasted their first kiss and their last kiss. They tasted yelling parents and families torn apart. They tasted their own pasts, but they also tasted each other’s. They tasted pain. But the pain they tasted was as sweet as the love they shared. To them, love was bedsheets and cologne and aerosol deodorant. It was naivete and hopelessness and hope. Love was forgetfulness.

And they tasted the past: fourteen-hour drives across the country and late nights alone, scars on arms and feet, tearful goodbyes and tearful hellos, and the broken promises of people after people. They each tasted like sympathy, and a little like lemonade. The boys tasted misfortune and mistakes, but they also tasted hope and promise, hidden away between gums and taste buds. Their mouths were filled with fear and anticipation, and wonder about what would come. Their futures were uncertain, unknown. For fate is a wicked beast and tends to sever even the strongest of bonds. But the boys tasted hope, and they tasted happiness. They tasted the sweetest hope they would ever encounter. And when they looked in each other’s eyes, they could have looked forever. But soon, the night would end. The sun came up, and they tasted reality.

]]>https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/4056/creative/robbins-prose-winning-piece/feed/0Walkout Speech: Gun Violence in the UShttps://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3978/feature-articles/showcase/gun-violence-in-the-us/
https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3978/feature-articles/showcase/gun-violence-in-the-us/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 13:00:57 +0000https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/?p=3978The speech below was delivered by Thomas Hollinger during the school Walk Out on April 20.

Good Morning,

As you may know, my name is Thomas Hollinger. Over the past couple weeks I’ve gone to the several meetings totaling about six and a half hours regarding gun violence. Going into this I knew it was going to be troubling.

My grandfather learned to handle a rifle when he was 8. He frequently was sent out to hunt ducks and rabbits after school so that his family would have meat for dinner. He taught my mother and her siblings to hunt when they were about 10. She never went hunting much and stopped around 13 when my grandfather said she had to clean what she caught. They never shot anything that wasn’t used as food. Additionally, my dad grew up in a part of Pennsylvania where hunting was extremely common. Often times, a family would not be able to afford meat if they didn’t hunt it. A deer would be shot and it would be frozen so the family would have venison for months. A first gun was a rite of passage among parents and their children.

Even considering that both my parents are very familiar with guns and know how to handle them, they made a conscious decision not to have them in their home. Their view is that while a gun could always be used to protect against intruders, an accident because of children around or even the intruder taking the gun themselves is too much of a risk. My dad would strongly advise against having a gun in the house to anyone who would listen.

My mom once had a colleague named Jody Marchand. We were friends with her and family and I’d see them every once in a while. Brian, her husband, was mentally stable, and the couple and their daughter seemed happy. Brian was also a hunter, who had a collection of guns. He had a gun safe in his barn, and he kept a handgun in his bedside table. One evening, in an argument with his wife, he took out the handgun and started waving it around. His wife called 911. Their 18-year old daughter came into the room. In some momentary loss of thought, Brian shot his beloved daughter. He was so distraught by what he had done, the only thing he could think to do was kill his wife and then himself. His wife survived to tell the story, and believes that if that handgun hadn’t been there, they would still be a happy family — that if he had had to walk down the stairs, go to the gun safe, and take out a hunting rifle, he would have realized what he was doing, and stopped. Brian was mentally fit, and his gun was not a semi-automatic, it was a handgun. He was exactly the type of person that society thinks should be allowed to have guns. Tragedies just like this are happening around our country with a disturbing frequency.

Now coming from a liberal household in a liberal state, it should be obvious what my views on guns are. In my opinion, the 2nd amendment, which includes a well regulated militia, should not guarantee the ease of access to owning and purchasing a gun to the extent that it does. One my father’s complaint is that it is easier to get a gun license in Massachusetts than a license to set off fireworks. To get a fireworks license, one must be actively employed on a crew for professional fireworks displays for a minimum of 3 years, and they must have 2 letters of endorsement from 2 other certificate holders. Even in Massachusetts, however, the gun laws aren’t nearly as strict.

There are two main types of firearms licenses in Massachusetts, a Firearms Identifications Card, and Licensed to Carry. Let’s talk about the less stringent Firearms Identification Cards, FID for short. In Massachusetts, an FID permits the purchase, possession, and transportation of non-large-capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. In order to receive an FID, one must go through a one day class in armed safety. That qualifies an application for an FID. As long as they pass a short background check, they have the right to purchase, possess and transportation non-large-capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. To recap, for Fireworks, 3 years training, 2 letters of recommendation FID, one day class. And yet, Massachusetts has some of the most limiting gun laws in the country. According to the New York Times, Massachusetts is one of the few states to receive an A, regarding gun laws.

Consider this: it is significantly harder to set off fireworks or drive in Massachusetts than to own a gun. Are fireworks really more dangerous than guns? And remember, Massachusetts, has extremely limiting gun laws compared to the rest of the country. In some states, you can go to a gun show and lawfully purchase firearms without any sort of license. As the sale is unofficial, if I lived in one of these states, I could go and purchase a gun without any such background checks.

Are these really the types of laws that we want to live by? As states must recognize each other’s gun laws, it is clear to me, at least, that these issues can’t be solved on a state by state basis; there must be action at federal level.

An article by the Washington Post reported that of the 292 guns used in mass shootings only 49 were obtained illegally. The national post reports several of the gunmen who obtained guns lawfully would have failed a background check if the system had worked.

I understand the need for hunting, and I understand the 2nd amendment. But we need a system that protects us and we need it now. We need to keep such dangerous guns out of the hands of people who are unfit. Otherwise, tragedies, such as mass shootings in schools, movie theaters, and concerts, will continue. Somehow, we need to stop this.

We believe that, in order to fulfill our mission, a healthy diversity must define Bancroft School.

We believe in the dignity of the individual and the celebration of difference.

We believe that our community must aspire to the best democratic ideals.

We believe that a diverse and inclusive community is a better learning community.

We believe that our sense of justice and inclusion will continue to evolve.

We strive to create a diverse and inclusive community in which each individual is safe, known, and valued.

We strive to create a school culture that affords each member the opportunity to construct a personal identity in an environment that is open, inviting, and accessible.

We strive to forge a community devoid of all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

We strive to build a community of families, faculty, and staff that reflects the diversity of the greater Worcester region.

We strive for an inclusive community that gives voice to all members, encourages challenges to biases and assumptions, and promotes ongoing discussion of these important topics.

These ideas are often lost in the craziness of our daily lives, but this year the Social Justice and Equity Think Tank/Task Force has been working to understand how the Diversity Statement can be better integrated into our community.

This group was formed by Ms. Baker in the fall of this year. At first, the Task Force was made up of a collection of heads of clubs that were working on issues of inclusion at our school or in the greater community. The Task Force has been meeting once a month to discuss and determine goals that we believe are essential to making our community reflect the ideas in the Diversity Statement.

We have established the following goals for 2018-2019:

to promote more open, honest conversation and communication between all constituents, regardless of views, beliefs or level of power

to have more frequent meetings and expand participation

to explore and expand curriculum to reflect theDiversity Statement.

We would love to have more people join us in order to ensure these goals reflect the needs of everyone and to begin dialogue on issues relating to the Diversity Statement that we, as a community, feel need to be addressed.

We hope to see you at our next meeting! The more opinions and ideas in the room the better and stronger we are.

Come and bring your friends & teachers!

]]>https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3972/new/equity-task-force/feed/0A Contemporary Bibliophilehttps://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/4037/a-and-e/a-contemporary-bibliophile/
https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/4037/a-and-e/a-contemporary-bibliophile/#commentsThu, 17 May 2018 13:00:47 +0000https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/?p=4037I’m a reader. Always have been and always will be. However, the last few years or so I felt like I was getting away from it. Now I am not talking vacations or school breaks here. My family know that the first place I hit at the start of a school vacation is the Millbury Public Library, and I am never happier than when I am sitting on my screened porch in the summer time with a pot of tea and stack of books. It was just that I was finding that with schoolwork and taking care of my family, I did not have the time for pleasure reading that I once did. Now I dabble on various author and reading websites from time to time, so when in January of last year one of those sites started a reading challenge where people pledged to read a certain number of books in the coming year, I thought: ok, I’ll give myself a challenge.

Let me be very clear. I have never been good at keeping resolutions. Every January I make some and by February 1st they are usually a thing of the past. I been resolving to lose the weight from my last pregnancy for oh let me think… the last 15 years, but I was really thinking that I might be able to keep this reading challenge. Now I know enough not to make a lofty goal like pledging to read 75 books in a year or something crazy like that, but I thought 20 books would be a doable number for me to read last year. I was pretty good last winter and was reading about a book a month, and when I fell behind in my challenge (as the alerts on my phone and in my inbox kept reminding me) I knew I could make up some ground over March vacation — which I did by reading 3 books. However, by April and May the alerts kept coming and I was behind again. Summer hit and I thought I was in the clear. While I definitely gained some ground on my challenge and was reading more, I also felt that my attention span was not as sharp as it had once been. Menopause brain maybe? I don’t know, but I felt scattered. The good news was that with summer vacation I was back into walking 3-4 miles every morning, but even with my various playlists on my phone I was still feeling unable to focus.

While browsing through the app Overdrive on my iPad to get a digital book for vacation, I realized that I could download audio books. Remembering howI loved listening to books on CD when I was commuting to work twenty years ago, I had an epiphany! I started downloading audio books on my iPhone and heading out the door at 5:30 am for my morning walks. It was a total game changer! Listening to great stories read by great narrators including many of my favorite Hollywood stars, I was walking all over my neighborhood, all over Ogunquit Beach and all over the state parks near my parents’ house in Connecticut. I had forgotten just how much I love to hear a good story being told. I found myself walking further and sometimes even taking two walks a day just to listen to my books. Driving long distances to pick my children up at various ice rinks and such was a pleasure when I plugged my phone into my car’s USB port. And when my kids complained I said, “Too damn bad. It’s my friggin’ car.” Grocery shopping on the weekends, which is the seventh circle of hell for any mother by the way, was a delight! I could ignore all the idiots and their screaming kids in the store by putting on my headphones and listening to a book.

I started to make challenges with myself. I would listen to a classic one week, a biography the next, a mystery next, a memoir and I went on and on. I listened to some of the books I read in high school but did not understand, and some of the ones I was supposed to read but did not. (Sorry, Mrs. Fortier) The books were loaned to my device for 14 days, but I started trying to listen to them in 7 days and return them faster. I started setting the Overdrive app for 15 minutes on a timer and went to sleep listening to my books. No joke: this was bordering on the obsessive.

I am currently listening to a book written by one of my favorite comedians. The author is the narrator, too, and so it is literally like being at one of his foul-mouthed, very politically incorrect, profanity laced rants at a comedy club. So offensive on so many levels but also so hysterically funny, I cannot stop myself. Do I care that I start laughing out loud when I am by myself in the middle of a public place? Not at all. Am I happy to disconnect from the world in a good way with the spoken word? Yes, I am. Do I feel like I am more productive with my time instead of wasting it trolling the internet doing online shopping, reading up on the royal wedding or wondering why it took Prince William and Princess Kate so long to come up with a name for the royal baby? Yes, I do. Is it nice to forget the bad news and political divisions of the world for a little while and simply enjoy a good book? You’re darn right it is.

I cannot wait for summer vacation to start. I can picture myself browsing for hours for summer beach reads at the Niantic Book Barn with my phone in my pocket and my earbuds in. This way I don’t have to listen to every blowhard tourist who thinks he is a critic for the New York Times Book Review.

]]>https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/4037/a-and-e/a-contemporary-bibliophile/feed/1Advice for Rising Seniorshttps://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3949/feature-articles/showcase/advice-for-rising-seniors/
https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3949/feature-articles/showcase/advice-for-rising-seniors/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 13:00:47 +0000https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/?p=3949There are many valuable pieces of advice your average rising-senior could be told. (Indeed, they
will undoubtedly be told many of these “words of wisdom” multiple times over the next 12
months.) However, there is one piece of advice that rising seniors are not told as much as they
should be.

Where you go to college is not as important as everyone pretends.

Yes, the college application process takes work. Yes, you’ll have to put up with everyone and
their aunt asking you where you’re going to school next fall. And yes, you’ll have to deal with
people who wear their college credentials like a coat of arms. These are the things that make
college feel like a big deal. A really big deal.

But, college does not have to be a big deal. If you can find a school where you feel comfortable
and you can thrive in the ways you desire, then you have found your college. That place may fit
society’s narrow definition of a “good college”; it may not. That’s ok. This is your school, not
society’s.

Now, I always knew this in theory, but I often had difficulty really believing it. I wanted to
believe it, but where was the proof? Who could actually say that college does not matter? Then I
read an Op-Ed by Frank Bruni in The New York Times.

The article was called “How to Survive the College Admissions Madness,” and it told the story of
several high school students as they navigated America’s arduous college admissions process.
One such student was Peter Hart. Hart was a good student, but when it came to college, he got
rejected from his top choices and ended up at Indiana University. It was here that he thrived. He
joined the honors program, became vice president of the business fraternity on campus, and
started a small real estate enterprise. After graduation, he found work at the Boston Consulting
Group where he worked besides a fellow classmate who had gone to Yale. As the article put it,
despite “traveling a more gilded path, he’d arrived at the same destination.”

It is for this reason that college does not have to be a big deal. Your college experience is not
measured by the name of your school. It is measured by your effort. If you work to find new
opportunities and embrace them when they appear, then you will be just as successful as your
Ivy-covered counterparts.

Now, thinking of college in this way may not work for all people. Indeed, some may like the
“big deal” that college has become. But I never did. And so my advice would be to face the
college application process on your terms in whatever form that may be. Because it is only then
that you will be able to find a place that will make you happy for the next four years of your life.

]]>https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3949/feature-articles/showcase/advice-for-rising-seniors/feed/0Top Ten Things to Do Over the Summerhttps://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3956/a-and-e/top-ten-things-to-do-over-the-summer/
https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3956/a-and-e/top-ten-things-to-do-over-the-summer/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 13:00:46 +0000https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/?p=3956Upon coming back from summer vacation we all have that same old and often uninteresting conversation: the “so what’d you do over the summer” one? That’s not to say they’re all uninteresting — it’s just that a lot of the time the people who ask are typically looking for one sentence answers…unless they’re not, which could lead you to a very engaging conversation. That is, if you actually have anything to say about your Netflix marathon filled summer.

So if you are looking to explore a world beyond your TV, then you should read through this list of The Top Ten Things to Do Over the Summer. And perhaps have a riveting, thoughtful, and overall entertaining discussion about your summer experiences that will help you avoid this (100% real) conversation:

“So what’d you do over the summer?”

“I stayed inside in the dark like a mushroom.”

“Ah…okay…”

Amusement Park

Don’t let the long lines deter you — it’s worth it! And remember, patience is a virtue. But if you don’t like roller coasters and aren’t a fan of heights, try a water slide!

2. Beaches (by kayak, canoe, paddle board, or speed boat)

Now it may seem like an obvious summer activity, and it is. It’s so obvious that almost everyone tries to do this over the summer, which leads to very packed and noisy beaches/lakes. But if you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing day on the beach, then you should try going to narrowriverkayaks.com where you can rent a kayak, canoe, paddle board, or speed boat to use on a scenic river route to a private, secluded, and rarely busy part of the Narragansett Beach.

#3-5 are for the type of people that identify with the phrase:

“ride or die”

3. Bungee Jumping

I have always wanted to try this, but I never knew where to go until now! The closest one is the Great Canadian Bungee Corporation located in Ottawa, Canada. It’s about a 7 hour drive, give or take depending on your location, which is less time than it takes to get to Washington D.C., so don’t let that part get in the way!

4. Skydiving

If you didn’t like number 3 and prefer “no strings attached” types of activities, then this is the one for you! Type worcesterskydiving.com into your search bar and you can book a “jump” right away! But if you want to skydive alone, then you can attend their skydiving school and jump out of airplanes anywhere at anytime.

5. Hang Gliding

For those who liked the idea of number 4 but also appreciate scenery…then hang gliding should be perfect for you. You still get to jump off of things, like cliffs, but instead of falling from the sky at high speeds, you get to fly in the sky and observe the tiny houses beneath you. Type in Hang Glide New England and book a session! It’s about a 28 minute drive from Princeton, MA so you won’t have to wait long to know what it’s like to be a bird.

6. Hiking

Enjoy nature at its finest when everything is green and in bloom. A great place to go is Wachusett Mountain where we have Mountain Day!

7. Get a Job

This might sound super lame, but isn’t asking your parent for twenty bucks every time you want to go out also pretty lame?

8. Outdoor Movie Theatre

If you find yourself wanting to watch a movie but escape the A.C.- confined space you call home, then this is a sweet idea. There’s a drive-in movie theatre in Leicester that’s only 25 minutes from Worcester. They offer double feature first run films and snacks!

9. Travel Abroad

You have 12 weeks to do this so planning shouldn’t be an issue! Go somewhere new and exciting to meet new people and try a different cuisine. Or go to a familiar favorite location because with the limited time we have off, it’s sometimes nice to know what you’re getting.

10. Star Gazing

A very simple activity that is so underrated. Grab a towel, some bug spray, and maybe some food to enjoy as you look up at the stars in hopes of witnessing a shooting star.

]]>https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3956/a-and-e/top-ten-things-to-do-over-the-summer/feed/0Top 5 Good&Cheap&Fast Eats in Worcesterhttps://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3940/a-and-e/top-5-good-cheap-fast-eats-in-worcester/
https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/3940/a-and-e/top-5-good-cheap-fast-eats-in-worcester/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 13:00:46 +0000https://unleashed.bancroftschool.org/?p=3940As a native from Wormtown and the daughter of two “foodies”, I’ve been to a lot of restaurants in Worcester. Despite Worcester not being the largest or coolest city, it has some great food. You just need to know the right places to look.

Now, I know as high school kids we have to spend our money on gas, clothes, college applications, makeup, etc. So, naturally, we’re on a tight budget. Budget constraints are great, don’t get me wrong, but that forces us into a repetitive restaurant experience. At lunch, how many upperclassmen do you see with Chick-fil-a bags, a Dunkin’s iced coffee, a Domino’s pizza, or a Starbucks hot coffee? I see that Every. Single. Day. So, to help you all break free of your food habits, I’ve compiled a list of 5 of my favorite good&cheap&fast eats in Worcester (estimated driving time included).

Bon Appetit!

If you’re looking for…

…a really good hot dog in an old school vibe restaurant…George’s Coney Island.

4.8 miles – 8 min from Bancroft

*cash only*

Coney Island has been serving its dogs for generations. According to the website, it “has endured through a depression, two world wars and a dozen presidents.” Known for its speedy service, excellent dogs, and secret chili sauce, it’s a landmark in Worcester — just drive by the big sign above the restaurant and you’ll see what I mean. Coney Island is a time machine: you take one step in through the doors and you are transported back to a time that you either remember fondly or were never a part of. It’s typical to prop your elbows up on the counter as you lean across to give your order. “Five UP! Extra meat sauce!” the lady bellows and the person cooking up the famous dogs engages in a flurry of activity, lining buns up their arm, dropping the dogs into those buns, and then swiping on some Coney sauce (or whatever you like on them). Ask for a bag of chips or a juicy pickle, if you’re so inclined. Then, order your drink. They have loads of drink options, but the best ones are the milks. They have the little paper milk cartons of chocolate and white milk that you’re likely to see at school…but those aren’t the ones you want. Ask for the chocolate milk in the glass bottle. Trust me, it’s the best you will ever taste. The choco milk is smooth and rich and creamy and always has me wondering if they simply melted a carton of really good choco ice cream. Then, pay, grab your tray and take a seat in one of the cozy wooden booths. Now, you’re probably wondering, can this place get any better? Yes, yes it can, and it does. Carved into the the walls of the booths are initials of lovers and boyfriends and girlfriends and words and song lyrics. As you sit and bite in that first dog, you are surrounded by history. Unlike any other restaurant I’ve ever been to, you know that someone somewhere sat right where you are and ate a hot dog just like you — the carvings are proof.

…a bagel and smoothie or baked good…Bagel Time.

2.5 miles – 6 min from Bancroft

If it’s a bagel you crave, you don’t have to go far. Bagel Time is right across the street from the WPI athletic complex, only 6 minutes away from Bancroft. You can’t beat a Bagel Time bagel with their cream cheese. My top three are the Asiago, the Chocolate Chip, and the Plain with plain cream cheese. The bagels are baked fresh every day, so if you get there early, you might be lucky enough to snag a warm one — their warm bagel is something you wish for. It’s that good. But even if you don’t get the coveted warm bagel, you’ll still leave with a smile on your face, and not only because of their scrumptious bagels. The staff consists of the dynamic husband&wife duo, Mary and Cristian Zaruha, the bagel lady and the bagel man. Their slogan is “you can’t buy love, but you can buy bagels” and that’s pretty accurate. Ask anyone who has eaten a Bagel Time bagel if they want to go and grab one with you. At the sound of Bagel Time, you’re likely to witness your friend’s eyes glaze over as they sigh and say lovingly, “Ahhh — a Bagel Time bagel, yes, let’s go.”

…some dynamite homemade salsa & guac with fresh chips…Sol of Mexico.

3.2 miles – 9 min from Bancroft

This quaint little Mexican eatery serves up the best homemade salsa & guac I’ve ever eaten. You can taste the freshness of each and every ingredient. The chips are homemade, too — sometimes I’ve gotten there as she was bagging the chips for that day. Also, the prices are very reasonable – a bag of chips ($2), salsa 8 oz. ($4), guac 8 oz. ($4), salsa 4 oz. ($2.25), and guac ($2.25). There’s loads of Mexican food items on her menu as well, but the chips+salsa+guac remain my favorite.

…focaccia and cookies…Darby’s.

5.4 miles – 10 min from Bancroft

Darby’s Bakery is a little bit of a ride from school, but definitely worth it. You could grab a bag of cookies or a focaccia bread (like little personal pizzas) – perfect for a light lunch or a snack before practice. If you stop in there, you’ll see a ton of cookies begging for a chance to get in your belly as they sit in their prominent display case. It’s hard to miss them, and even harder to leave without buying a few. I recommend the chocolate chip cookie and the Healthy cookie. The owner Paige even makes her own candy bars that consist of a slice of brownie coated in homemade caramel, topped with honey roasted peanuts, and dipped in chocolate. The best part about Darby’s Bakery is that all the cutting, baking, dipping, frosting, etc. is all done by hand — so you know it was made with love.

…some place a little classier with an option for everyone in your group…The Boynton.

2.9 miles – 7 min from Bancroft

Now, if you’re looking for somewhere to sit-down and eat lunch/dinner with your friends, then the Boynton is the place you want to be. Right outside of the WPI campus, the Boynton is a hot spot for students and families. The quality of the food is always consistent. You’ll hear it all the time, “I’ve never gone to the Boynton and had something bad (*knock on wood*).” The menu has something for everybody on it and the prices are reasonable. I love their crock of French Onion soup. The apps are always good and my family has tried everything from fried pickles and brussel sprouts (both are sooooo good) to the Boynton Blooming Onion. Like I said, the food is consistently delicious, so you can’t go wrong at the Boynton. It’s a great place to go with a group of friends or even with your family.